Did you know that women tend to prefer a little scruffiness on men over a clean shave? But if you’re incapable of growing a beard, don’t despair. They say stubble is only good if it suits your personality and style.
So the question is, is growing a beard really 4 you?
Let’s break it down into 4 factors, if you may. Biology, Lifestyle, Face Shape, and Personality.
#1 BIOLOGY: YOUR DNA AND HORMONES AND HOW IT AFFECTS BEARD GROWTH
Let’s face it, pun intended, not every guy is blessed with the genes that can grow a beard. It can be hereditary---the amount and kind of hair you can grow, along with the amount of testosterone you produce. So first look to the men with beards in your family and see if ‘hairy’ runs in your DNA.
Another factor is the testosterone hormone, the major sex hormone in males that is responsible for things such as hair follicle growth and increased muscle and bone mass. If you’ve always wanted to know if a mustache and beard suits you but can’t grow it out until now, don’t worry because your T hormones don’t peak until your early 20s.
Ok, so what if the odds are stacked against you? It doesn’t necessarily mean that you absolutely cannot grow a full beard. This brings us to the next factor.
#2 LIFESTYLE: CAN YOU MAINTAIN A FULL BEARD?
Or an even better question is, does your lifestyle support it? Science has proven that a good amount of sleep and rest promotes a healthy body. Did you know that our cells regenerate the fastest when we are asleep? Peak hair-growing included. It also goes without saying that eating healthy helps your body grow what it needs to grow.
So if your lifestyle isn’t exactly in tip-top shape, that discourages your beard from growing as it should be. Also if you’re bent on keeping it, you should learn the basics of beard grooming. An unkempt stubble definitely turns off the ladies.
#3 FACE SHAPE: WILL A BEARD SHARPEN OR SOFTEN YOUR LOOK?
Facial hair has a role in your overall look---a full beard can round out a rather squarish face shape, and a stubble beard can give a good angle if you have a round face. If you don’t know what your face shape is yet, check out our blog post, The Best Hairstyles For Your Face Shape.
#4 PERSONALITY: CAN YOU CARRY A BEARD LOOK WITH STYLE?
Along with your face shape, your overall look, style, and personality (aka your branding) should complement your beard.
If you’re destined for a smooth baby-face look, embrace it. There are lots of other ways to charm a lady than any types of beards. Sure, that gives you a little bit of scruff that girls like, but if your overall look and branding doesn’t really support it, it’s not really a huge waste.
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